Apple is poised to introduce a revamp of its iPhone trade-in program, allowing customers with broken iPhone's to exchange the damaged device for up to $250 in credit towards a new handset, according to multiple insider sources.
Until now, Apple's "Reuse and Recycling" program allowed customers to trade in undamaged older iPhone models for credit toward the purchase of a new iPhone model, reported CNBC. The exception, however, is that since the inception of the program, the deal didn't apply to older iPhones with cracked displays or broken cameras and buttons.
Apple's full terms and conditions are available at its stores, but the current program's online policy says the iPhone "must be in good working condition and able to power on."
Now under the change, which is expected to be implemented this week, the updated program will allow consumers to trade-in iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units with damaged displays, cameras and buttons, according to 9 to 5 Mac. The report says that an iPhone 5S, for example, could fetch $50, while an iPhone 6 can get $200, but the damage of the phones must be "within reason."
The report adds that the idea behind the program is to get more customers to buy a new iPhone instead of sending in their current devices for repairs. The idea comes as the direct result of iPhone sales falling flat in Apple's first quarter and the company warning that this year will see further declines in year-over-year declines in iPhone shipments.
Concerns over these declines have caused Apple shares price to come under pressure as of late. It's not clear what impact the program will have on U.S. sales, but CEO Tim Cook noted recently that the program is currently more about the customer experience, but he believes that its impact "will be meaningful" over the longer term as U.S. customers adapt to a different buying pattern.
Perhaps this expected impact is exactly what Apple needs to pull itself out of its current rut.
